Car construction.



H. M. PFLAGER.

GAR CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED APR-3, 1911. 1,021,207, Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

WITNESSES INYENTOR. 9%!- W.

BY i ZM COLUMBIA PLANOUIIAPH CO" WASHINGTON. D. c.

HARRY M. IFLAGER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

OAR CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 3, 1911. Serial No. 618,619.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY M. PFLAGER, a citizen of the-United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in'Car Construction, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved car construction, the upper portion illustrating the floor framing, and the lower portion the roof structure. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in car construction, the object being to construct the framing of the car in such a manner that certain portions of the corners of the car, which are not relied upon to transmit any portion of the load may be sheared ofi in the event of collision, so as to protect the load carrying members of the framing.

Essentially, the invention consists in constructing the load carrying members, preferably both in the roof structure and floor framing, with wedge-shaped ends, tapering to a point. Said load carrying members are attached to the corner structures of the car, and said corner structures usually carry no portion of the load. These corner structures may be riveted in posit-ion or secured in any suitable manner, the intention being to shear these members off in the event of collision. Assuming for purposes of explanation that a car or train of cars, constructed in accordance with my present improvement collides with another car or train, or for any other reasons the cars are jammed one against the other, the tapered ends of the rigid load carrying members will, in all probability strike with their apices out of alinement, such apices being brought to a sharp point to insure this, whereupon, instead of telescoping or crushing the end structure of the ear, the inclined faces of the main load carrying members will cause the cars to be deflected, each pointed end of the framing acting in the nature of a shearing cutter which will plow through the corner structures of the car. Such a glancing blow does little or no damage to the main load carrying members of the frame.

My invention is intended primarily for use in passenger coaches and electric cars, but it is obvious that the principle is applicable to other types of cars.

In the drawing, 1 indicates the center sill and 2 the casting constituting the main under framing at the end of the car. This casting is provided with an inward extension 2 for the attachment of the center sill, a cross bearing member 2 constituting the inner end of the casting, bolster member 2 and end sill member 2, longitudinal members 2, and a forward triangular extension 2 arranged in front of the end sill member, and whose inclined sides are extended rearwardly, forming inclined members 2 which connect with the side members of the casting. The extension 2 is located under the platform of the car, and is provided with longitudinal members beyond which the draft rigging may be arranged.

The buffer beam 3, step supports 3 and the corner construction of the car 3 are preferably made in a single casting, and secured to the inclined members of the casting 2 by suitable rivets. It will be seen that in the event that the buffer beam is crushed, or if the parts 3, 3 and 3 are sheared from their support that the main casting 2 constituting the load carrying member of the floor framing will, in all probability, not be damaged, or if damaged, not beyond repair. The roof structure has its side frame 4 bent at an incline as at 4 so as to provide a deflecting surface, corresponding to the inclined edges of the casting 2. The angle 5 which extends over the corner of the car is preferably secured by rivets through the side frame 4:, being held in position also by the carline and purlin members of the roof structure.

The post and diagonals which support the roof structure may be of the usual construction, and if desired we may employ an end frame casting shown in Patent- No. 929705 granted to Harry M. Pflagcr, Aug. 3rd, 1909, and to strengthen this casting we may extend the same rearwardly along each side of the car and brace said extension to the end framing by means of an integral diagonal member 6. If desired, the apices of the floor and roof framing may be connected by a centrally located post 7 which is preferably V-shaped in cross section; and similarly shaped posts 8 may be employed at the door openings of the car to connect Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

the frames. Of course Where the end opening for a vestibule is desired the posts 7 could be omitted, but in the construction of electric cars Where a platform is inclosed the centrally located posts Will not be objectionable.

What I claim is:

1. An underframe casting having a centrally arranged triangular projection extending under the platform, and castings forming a portion of a buffer beam and platform, said castings being secured on each side of said extension.

2. An underframe casting having a centrally arranged triangular projection extending under the platform, said casting having a transverse member forming a section of an end sill, and castings secured on each side of said first mentioned casting and forming continuations of said end sill, platform castings and a buffer beam.

3. In car construction an underframe comprising an apical member, and a sectional' bufler beam secured to the apex thereof.

4:. A11 underframe casting having a centrally arranged triangular projection eX- tending under the platform, a sectional buffer beam secured to each side of the extremity of said casting, a platform sect-ion integral With said buffer beam, and draft sills integral With said triangular casting.

5. A roof structure having apical ends, and corner members secured thereto and preserving the contour of the roof.

6. A roof structure having apical ends, and corner members secured thereto, and

preserving the contour of the plat-form hood or canopy.

7 An underframe casting having a centrally arranged triangular projection extending under the platform.

8. An underframe casting having a centrally arranged triangular projection extending under the platform, and a sectional buffer beam secured thereto.

9. An underframe for cars consisting of a casting comprising a bolster, side members and inclined front members, the latter extending under the platform, a sectional end sill connected to said inclined front members, and asectional bufi'er beam also con nected to said inclined front members.

10. An underframe for cars comprising a bolster, side members, a short end sill connected to the side members by inclined. members, and a triangular extension in front of the end sill and Whose side members are continuations of said inclined members.

11. In a car construction, a roof frame and a floor frame having a centrally pointed end extending to the extremity of the platform, a post connecting the apices of said pointed end, and corner structures secured to said ends.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses, this 30th day of March, 1911.

HARRY M. PFLAGER.

Witnesses:

G. T. VVESTLAKE, HAL C. BELLVILLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

